Overview

Title

An Act To designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lynchburg, Virginia, as the Private First Class Desmond T. Doss VA Clinic.

ELI5 AI

In a little town in Virginia, there's a special building that helps take care of veterans' health. This bill says that building will get a new name to honor a brave soldier named Private First Class Desmond T. Doss.

Summary AI

S. 3938 is a bill that designates the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lynchburg, Virginia, as the "Private First Class Desmond T. Doss VA Clinic." This means that any official mentions of this clinic in laws, regulations, maps, or official documents will now use this new name.

Published

2024-12-18
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: SENATE
Status: Enrolled Bill
Date: 2024-12-18
Package ID: BILLS-118s3938enr

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
1
Words:
193
Pages:
1
Sentences:
5

Language

Nouns: 77
Verbs: 8
Adjectives: 4
Adverbs: 0
Numbers: 5
Entities: 22

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.18
Average Sentence Length:
38.60
Token Entropy:
4.26
Readability (ARI):
21.22

AnalysisAI

The bill titled "An Act To designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lynchburg, Virginia, as the Private First Class Desmond T. Doss VA Clinic" proposes a change in the name of a Veterans Affairs clinic located in Lynchburg, Virginia. This legislative piece intends to honor Private First Class Desmond T. Doss by naming a community-based outpatient clinic after him. Desmond Doss was a decorated war hero, recognized for his bravery during World War II, notably receiving the Medal of Honor.

General Summary of the Bill

The bill stipulates that the community-based outpatient clinic, which is managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs in Lynchburg, Virginia, should be renamed as the "Private First Class Desmond T. Doss VA Clinic." Furthermore, it mandates that any official United States document, map, or record that references this clinic must use its new name. The bill is straightforward, focusing solely on the renaming aspect without delving into any operational adjustments for the clinic itself.

Summary of Significant Issues

The proposed legislation raises several issues. First, the bill does not address any potential costs that might arise from the renaming process. This absence makes it challenging to predict financial implications for the Department of Veterans Affairs or any local budgets involved. Additionally, while the bill names a historical figure, it does not provide a justification or rationale for why Desmond T. Doss was selected, which could lead to public concern about favoritism or lack of transparency. Another issue is the lack of a specified timeline for implementing the name change, which might cause delays or administrative confusion. Lastly, though the language in the bill is relatively direct, there is room for simplification to ensure that it is easily understood by all community members, including those directly affected by the change.

Public Impact and Stakeholder Considerations

On a broad scale, the bill's impact on the public is more symbolic than practical. The name change would primarily serve to honor the legacy of Desmond T. Doss, potentially enhancing community pride and awareness of historical military figures. For veterans and their families, particularly those residing in or near Lynchburg, this act can be seen as a tribute to the valor and sacrifices of military personnel.

For specific stakeholders, including veterans utilizing the clinic and the staff who work there, the renaming could instill a sense of prestige and honor. However, it might also involve dealing with administrative headaches related to the transition if logistical matters such as signage changes, record updates, and public communications are not adequately planned and executed. Additionally, without a clear rationale for choosing Desmond T. Doss, some community members or veterans may question the decision-making process, possibly leading to calls for greater transparency or additional recognitions for other deserving figures.

In conclusion, while the bill symbolizes recognition and honor for a distinguished veteran, a more detailed approach addressing costs, justification, and logistical timelines could mitigate potential issues and enhance positive outcomes for all stakeholders involved.

Issues

  • The section does not specify any costs associated with renaming the clinic, which might lead to unanticipated expenses. This could potentially affect the financial planning of the Department of Veterans Affairs and impact local budgets. [Section 1]

  • There is no clear justification provided for renaming the clinic after Private First Class Desmond T. Doss, which may raise concerns about favoritism or lack of transparency in the decision-making process. This could lead to public debate or dissatisfaction. [Section 1]

  • The text does not specify a timeline for the renaming process, potentially causing delays or confusion on when changes should be implemented, affecting associated administrative processes and public awareness efforts. [Section 1]

  • Language used is relatively straightforward, but could be simplified further for better clarity to ensure it is accessible to all stakeholders, including veterans and community members. [Section 1]

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Designation of Private First Class Desmond T. Doss VA Clinic in Lynchburg, Virginia Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The section designates the outpatient clinic in Lynchburg, Virginia, as the “Private First Class Desmond T. Doss VA Clinic.” It also states that any mention of the clinic in U.S. documents will now refer to it by this new name.